September 3, 2008: Speaker Mary Carpenter. History of the Dane County Farmers Market. Meeting begins at 7:15pm in the Community Room of the Willy Street Co-op. See below for details.

The Dane County Farmers’ Market has become one of Madison’s primary tourist attractions, rated as a top market by both Food and Wine and Good Housekeeping. Mary and Quentin Carpenter have been vendors at the Market since 1983, and they have managed the market for 11 years.   They co-authored the book, The Dane County Farmers' Market -- A Personal History, published in 2003.   In her presentation, Mary will describe the evolution of the Dane County Farmers Market, from a fledgling operation into the largest farmers' market in the nation. Her presentation, based on over 20 years of insight as a market participant, will trace the emergence of trends at the market, such as organic foods, heirloom products, new processing techniques, and the growing connection to area restaurants, whose chefs  are often among the market’s early morning foragers. 

Mary and Quentin own a farm near Fort Atkinson.  Besides farming, Mary teaches high school English and Quentin teaches at the UWisconsin–Madison. Carpenter last spoke to CHEW in June 2002.

"In a sense, the…history of the market is played out every Saturday on the Square for those patient and observant enough to notice the changing landscape."—Mary Carpenter

 

October 1, 2008: Speakers Joe & Ruby Cabibbo. Topic: Sicilian Bread.

November 5, 2008: TBA.

December 3, 2008: Speaker Art Bartsch. "Would You Believe That There is More than One Fruitcake?" (Swiss Colony!)